standard glossary text
") gGmbH develops, implements and promotes Voluntary [Sustainability](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/sustainability "In 1987, the United Nations Brundtland Commission defined sustainability as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
") [Standards](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/standard "standard glossary text
") (VSS) for the textile sector. Our work is overseen by the Global Standards Foundation, ensuring independent governance and the long-term integrity of our standards. Our organisation maintains a flat structure, minimises administrative costs, is self-financed and uses any inflow to reach our vision and mission. ## Development and implementation Our voluntary standards set binding requirements for fibre content, certified processing, chemical [inputs](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/input "General term for all Substances and Preparations directly applied as textile auxiliary agents, inks, dyes or pigments.
"), environmental management, [human rights](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/human-rights "Human rights are rights inherent to all human beings, regardless of race, sex, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion, or any other status. Human rights include the right to life and liberty, freedom from slavery and torture, freedom of opinion and expression, the right to work and education, and many more. Everyone is entitled to these rights, without discrimination. (Source: Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations)
"), social criteria and business conduct. Compliance with the applicable requirements is assessed by approved independent certification bodies. Our VSS are dynamic; we foster constant progress towards the development of better textile processing methods. In this process of continuous improvement, we collaborate with international stakeholders, including the textile and apparel industry, [chemical suppliers](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/chemical-supplier "A Chemical Formulator places chemical products on the market under own trade name. Generally the recipe, formulation and processing know-how belong to the Chemical Supplier. These chemical products can be manufactured by either the Chemical Supplier itself, or another Chemical Formulator or a toll-manufacturer.
"), sustainable fibre production and environmental organisations, regulators, [workers](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/worker "Any individual engaged in work who is not a senior manager or owner.
")' rights groups, and labour unions. We believe that VSSs, set in partnership with international stakeholder communities, ensure widespread global acceptance. Through our Monitoring and Evaluation system we systematically assess and demonstrate our standards’ effectiveness in achieving intended sustainability outcomes. In contrast to mere national laws, our standards provide a consistent and global framework and help to overcome barriers to international trade. Likewise, they facilitate their users’ compliance with legal requirements and even empower them to prove their ability to exceed those. The implementation of our VSS reconciles the need of the textile industry with consumers' desire for transparency. The increasing worldwide recognition and acceptance of our VSS confirm that these needs are being met. We continue to work to ensure that our global standards satisfy the expectations of all stakeholders. ## Verification A standard is only as effective as it is credible. In addition to trust, verification is crucial for building credibility. We entrust verification only to selected professional and independent certification bodies. These certification bodies regularly [audit](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/audit "A systematic, independent and documented process for obtaining evidence and evaluating it objectively to determine the extent to which the Standard's requirements (including environmental and social criteria) are fulfilled by a Certified Entity or applicant for the status of Certified Entity. Audits are conducted by Approved Certification Bodies (see 'Approved Certification Body').
") all parties involved in the manufacturing of textiles certified to our VSS through comprehensive on-[site](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/site "An individual establishment where chemical Inputs are formulated (see Formulator) and produced. It is included in a Letter of Approval and audited by a Scope 4 Approved Certifier.
") inspections to verify that all standard requirements are met. ## Protection To further protect the credibility of our VSS, we investigate and impose sanctions whenever there is evidence of misleading use of our labels, references to certification and fraud ## Promoting global adoption Our standards provide a consistent global framework that helps businesses navigate regulatory requirements, overcome barriers to international trade and implement responsible practices along their supply-chain, while offering consumers credible assurance. Through our international network of global representatives, we expand our impact and contribute to sustainable development in the industry worldwide. ## Respect for both people and the environment drives us Our organisation minimises administrative costs. As a registered non-profit, our programmes are self-financed. All income is used to reach our vision and mission. Our voluntary standards set requirements for certified post-harvest processing, manufacturing, trading and labelling. [Organic](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/organic "'Organic' is a regulated term used to distinguish systems of managed production and products derived therefrom that adhere to principles of health, ecology, fairness and care, and which are certified compliant to an organic standard's regulations by an Approved Certification Body.
GOTS defines organic textiles as being made with fibres from organic agriculture systems that are certified to one of the IFOAM Family of Standards, and that are processed in socially and ecologically responsible ways, in alignment with organic principles.
The worldwide leading voluntary sustainability standard for the post-harvest textile value chain for certified organic fibres, covering environmental criteria, human rights, social criteria and business conduct.
") chain must be certified to an accepted external organic production standard.